11 Players Miss 2026 U.S. Open Cut as DeChambeau, Rahm Stumble at Shinnecock

Q: As LIV Golf’s funding disappears, is Jon Rahm’s shocking collapse a sign of a career in turmoil?

No. Rahm’s missed cut at Shinnecock is a bad major result, not clear evidence that his career is unraveling. The collapse itself was stark: he began the second round tied for second at 2-under, then shot 78 with four straight bogeys on the back nine, a double bogey at 16 and a closing bogey. But Shinnecock is one of the hardest U.S. Open venues, and several prominent players, including Shane Lowry and Patrick Cantlay, also exited early. One poor round there is not enough to define a broader decline. The larger picture cuts against the “career in turmoil” argument. Rahm has been strong in 2026, winning multiple LIV events and finishing runner-up at the PGA Championship, his best major result since winning the 2023 Masters. That suggests his game remains at an elite level even if his major record has become less consistent. Where the turmoil is real is off the course. LIV Golf’s financial future is uncertain after reports that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund will stop funding the league after 2026, forcing LIV to seek new investors and likely reduce purses or events. Rahm is tied to LIV on a long-term contract and has said there is no easy exit. He also declined a PGA Tour return pathway earlier this year, which limits his flexibility if LIV shrinks. At the same time, Rahm has reduced some risk by settling with the DP World Tour and restoring his Ryder Cup eligibility. So the evidence points to business uncertainty around his career path, not a collapse in his golf.

3 articles · Updated · GOLF.com · Jun 20

Eleven notable players were ruled out of the weekend at Shinnecock Hills, with the cut set at 4 over and DeChambeau, Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka and defending champion J.J. Spaun among the exits.
DeChambeau missed by 1 shot after a 70-75 finish, opening Friday with back-to-back three-putt doubles and extending his slump to 4 missed cuts in his last 5 majors.
Rahm followed a bogey-free 68 with a 78, missing 6 putts inside 10 feet and making a double bogey on the par-5 16th to fall out after starting the day in contention.
Koepka shot 73-77 after arriving with an Ulnar nerve issue, while Hovland, Fowler, Lowry, Cantlay, Cameron Smith, Patrick Reed and Adam Scott also failed to survive 36 holes.
The shakeout underscored how quickly Shinnecock punished even elite players, turning a cutline battle flagged earlier Friday into an early exit for several recent major contenders.